Combined water and cap pistol



July 3, 1962 T. C. POWELL COMBINED WATER AND CAP PISTOL Filed Dec. 3, 1959 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR.

u E w P c m M w ATTORNEY United States Patent f 3,042,262 COMBINED WATER AND CAP PISTOL Thomas C. Powell, 3138 Bristol Road, Fort Worth, Tex.

' Filed Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 857,117

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-79) This invention relates to toy pistols and has reference to a combination cap and water pistol of the repeater type and wherein ejection of water and an audible report result simultaneously from contact of hammer and anvil. Similarity in the operation of a toy pistol to the action of its real counterpart is as important to its utility for its ultimate purpose as is the authenticity of its appearance. Play involving toy pistols is often patterned after the performance of television and motion picture performers portraying heroes and villians of the old west. The equipment through which young minds are projected into oft repeated plots of cowboys and rustlers ismost valued by the facility with which it can harmlessly duplicate the appearance and operation of actual firearms. Since real revolvers are discharged by the fall of a hammer in response to the squeeze of a trigger, and since the firing of a bullet is normally associated with a simultaneous report, it follows that simulation of these effects is desirable in a toy pistol. Where caps and water are used to duplicate the described effects it is likewise desirable to accompany each report with water ejection as to toy pistol is fired in repitition.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toy pistol which in'its appearance and manipulation resembles actual side arms. Another object of the invention is to provide a toy pistol which produces a report when fired and which simultaneously ejects a charge of water in simulation of a bullet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination water and cap pistol which delivers both its report and water missile in response to the fall of the pistols hammer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy pistol of the type described and wherein the firing action closely resembles that of actual firearms.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a construction for toy pistols whereby iboth water ejection and cap detonation will accompany each of a sequence of shots.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the trigger mechanism and water ejection system of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the escapement of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the water ejection system of an alternate construction of the invention.

In the drawing, a toy pistol having an external appearance simulating an actual revolver is provided with a dummy barrel 10, stock piece 11, trigger guard 12 and simulated breach cylinder 13 all in the general configuration of their familar counterparts in real firearms. As is well known in the art, these components may be formed as integral parts of a hollow casing 14 die cast as two longitudinally mating shells 15 and 16' detachable secured to- Fatented July 3, 1962 gether by screws 17. A hammer 18, provided with the usual cocking spur 19, projects upwardly through an aperture in the casing 14 rearwardly of the simulated breach cylinder 13. The hammer 18 is pivotally mounted in a vertical plane of rotation to one of the die cast shells 16 by journaled attachment to a horizontal pivot pin 20 projecting transversely from the shell 16 interiorly of the casing 14. A downwardly facing shoulder 21 is formed on the rearward surface of the hammer 18 within the easing 14, and a leaf spring 22 extends in arched compression between the shoulder 21 and a detent 23 within the base of the stock piece 11. The lower surface 24 of the hammer 18 is arcuately formed beneath the pivot pin 20 and has its approximate center of curvature substantially forward of and above the pivot pin.

A trigger member 25 is positioned vsu'thin the casing 14- beneath the hammer 18 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 26 receiving a horizontal pivot pin 27 projecting transversely from one of the die cast shells 16 interiorly of the casing. A trigger 28 projects arcuately downward from the trigger member 25 rearwardly of the slot '26 and through a corresponding aperture in the casing 14 into the finger grip area enclosed by the trigger guard 12. A sear 29 projects upwardly from the trigger member 25 to engagement with the arcuate lower surface of the hammer 18. Rearwardly of the trigger member 25 within the casing 14, a shank 30 projects transversely from one of the die cast shells 16 and is adapted to receive a looped central portion of a wire spring '31, one end of which engages a boss "32 attached to the shell 16 rearwardly of the shank 30 and the other end of which bears downwardly on a pin 33 projecting laterally from the trigger member 27.

Above the trigger member 25 within the casing 14 a horizontal post 34 is attached to one shell 16 and projects laterally therefrom. The post 34 is adapted to receive a roll of caps 35 and one end 35a of the roll is extended forwardly of and in longitudinal alignment with the hammer 18. A magazine partition 36 is attached to one shell 16 and partially encircles the roll of caps '35 and segregates the same from the trigger member 25 and associated components.

A pawl 37 is pivotally mounted on the pin 33 projecting from the trigger member 25 and projects upwardly therefrom to engagement with the extended end 35a of the roll of caps 35. A pawl spring 38 passes over the pin 33 and one of its ends engages the base of the pawl '37 rearwardly of the pin, whereas the other end of the spring 38 engages and bears upon a boss 39 attached to the trigger member 25 at a position forward of the pin 33. A flexible tube 40 coextensive in length with the dummy barrel 10 is positioned therein. The forward end of the tube 40 is secured and positioned within the muzzle end of the barrel by a circular block 41 attached to the interior surface of one shell 16 of the barrel; a small orifice (not numbered) is provided in the forward end of the tube. The rearward end of the tube 40 is of enlarged diameter and constitutes a bladder 42 which terminates forwardly of the hammer 18.

A box-like rammer 43, having upper and lower walls 44 and 45 connected by a rear Wall 46 and having its upper rear edge arcuately formed, is positioned within the casing 14 in substantially horizontal alignment with the lower portion of the bladder 42 and is slidably mounted for engagement with the bladder. The lower rear surface of the lower wall 45 of the rammer 43 is formed as a ratchet 47, the teeth of which slidably bear upon a horizontal bed plate 48 constructed as part of the casing 14. A guide plate 49, integral with the casing 14 and spaced from the bed plate 48, is positioned adjacently above the upper surface of the lower wall of the box-like rammer 43. A guide rod 50 is attached to the forward surface of the rear wall 46 of the rammer 43 and projects forwardly therefrom; a second guide rod 50a is interiorly attached to the casing 14 and projects rearwardly toward and in axial alignment with the guide rod 50 projecting from the rammer 43. A helical spring 51 receiving the guide rods 49 and 50 within its opposite ends, is compressed between the casing and the forward surface of the rearward wall 46 of the box-like rammer 43. A dasher rod 52 fabricated as a forward continuation of the lower wall 45 of the rammer 43 projects forwardly and exteriorly of the casing 14. An escapement lever 53, having upwardly projecting teeth at its forward and rear ends, is pivotally connected intermediately of its teeth to one die cast shell 16 of the casing 14 at a position thereon immediately beneath the rammer 43. A link 54 connects and coacts the rearward end of the excapement lever 53 with the forward extremity of the trigger member 25.

Alternate embodiments of a water ejector mechanism are shown in FIGURES l and 4. Generally, each construction provides a member which bears against the bladder 42 and exerts momentary ejection pressure thereupon when struck by the hammer 18. In FIGURE 1 a striker plate 55, conforming in width to the diameter of the bladder 42, is positioned adjacent the rear termination of the bladder. The upper edge 56 of the striker plate 55 is hingedly connected to the casing 14 whereas the lower edge 57 of the striker plate is swingably positioned within a horizontal groove 58 formed in the upper part of the magazine partition 36. A vertical guide plate 59 projects upwardly from the rearward edge of the groove 58 to a height defined by the upward limit of travel of the pawl 37.

In FIGURE 4 an anvil block 60 having a striker plate 6-1 formed as its rearward surfaces is slidably mounted for longitudinal motion within the upper portion of the simulated cylinder 13. The forward end of the anvil j block 50 is positioned against the upper rearward end of the bladder 42 and the rearward surface 61 of the anvil block is positioned within the path of the hammer 18. Immediately beneath the anvil block 60 a vertical guide plate 62 is formed as a vertical extension of the magazine partition 36 and serves as a stationary bearing surface for the pawl 37.

In operation, the muzzle end of the barrel 10 and the tube 40 are submerged in water and the dasher rod 52 is extended from the casing so that the helical spring 51 is compressed and the bladder 42 is released to expand and fill with fluid drawn through the tube. The escapement lever 53 then engages the ratchet and holds the dasher rod and rammer in this extended position. A roll of caps 35 is placed on the post 34 and the outer end 35a of the roll is placed in engagement with the pawl 37.

Finger pressure on the trigger 28 causes the trigger member 25 to pivot about the horizontal pivot pin 27 and the sear 29 is carried forward against the lower arcuate surface 24 of the hammer 18 which coactively pivots about its pin '20. As the sear 29 travels forwardly it disengages the hammer 18 which is then driven against the striker plate 55 by extension of the leaf spring 22. The pivoting of the trigger member 25 also carries the pawl 37 upwardly in its contact with the striker plate and the upward action of the pawl transports a cap on the extended end 35a of the roll 35 into the path of the hammer 18. Depression of the trigger 28 also coacts the escapement lever 53 with the rotation of the trigger member 25 by mutual connection to the link 54 so that the rammer 43 is advanced against the bladder 42 by expansion of the helical spring 51.

Percussion of the hammer 18 against the striker plate 55 detonates one of the caps on the roll 35 and also forces the striker plate to advance against the bladder 42; compression of the bladder forces ejection of a small amount of water from the tube 40 within the barrel 10 of the pistol.

Relaxation of finger pressure on the trigger 28 carries the sear 29 rearwardly into contact with the lower portion of the hammer 18 which is held against yielding rotation by contact with the striker plate 55. The wire spring 31 bearing against the pin 33 forces the trigger member 25 downwardly and the slot 26 advances on the pivot pin 27 and thereby provides clearance between the sear 29 and the lower surface 24 of the hammer 18. The trigger member 25 is forced by the wire spring 31 in continuation of its forward motion until the rearward end of the escapement lever 53 is forced by the link 54 into engagement with the ratchet 47. Pivoting of the trigger member then progresses about the lower end of the link until the forward limit of the slot 26 once again engages its pivot pin 27.

A simplified construction for a combination water and cap pistol of the single shot type, as illustrated in FIG- URE 6, may utilize a circular striker plate 63 cemented to the rearward end of the bladder 42. Direct application of finger pressure to the bladder 42 may be used to load the water ejector system in this form of the invention.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary constructions herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy pistol comprising:

a casing including a barrel,

a spring loaded hammer pivotally mounted in said casing rearwardly of said barrel,

a trigger including a sear pivotally mounted in said casing, said sear being positioned for coaction with said hammer,

a transverse longitudinally movable striker plate mounted in said casing and positioned to be struck by said hammer,

a bladder in said casing and in contact with said striker plate on the side thereof opposite said hammer,

a tube within said barrel and in communication with said bladder, and

means moving caps on to said striker plate in the path of said hammer.

2. A toy pistol as defined in claim 1, and including:

a spring loaded rammer Within said casing and positioned to press against said bladder, and

escapement means operable by said trigger releasing said spring loaded rammer in stages, the operation of said escapement means being simultaneous with the action of said hammer on said striker plate.

3. A toy pistol as defined in claim 2, and wherein said escapement means includes ratchet teeth longitudinally disposed on said rammer,

and 7 an escapement lever pivotally mounted in said casing, said lever having teeth on the ends thereof positioned to alternately engage said ratchet teeth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

